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Tustin Police K9 Roky easily makes it over a pile of barrels at the direction of his handler, Officer Eric Kent, during a demonstration for Tustin Police Department’s Open House.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Hundreds arrive to check out Tustin Police Department at annual open house

More law enforcement agencies have been hosting open houses to connect with their communities, but the Tustin Police Department was rolling out the red carpet for citizens long before it became a thing.

The Tustin Police Department staged its 23rd annual open house on Saturday, June 15, and as usual, hundreds turned out to see displays, exhibits, demonstrations, and more importantly, engage with the men and women who keep them safe.

“We go to public events all the time,” said Tustin Police Chief Stu Greenberg, who was participating in his first open house since becoming chief. “We always talk about how crucial it is that we have that partnership with the public. To me, the open house is a great example of that partnership. It’s one of the reasons I came to the Tustin Police Department. This is what it’s all about. Community outreach, community partnership …. There is nothing more important nowadays.”

Crowds packed the sidewalk along Centennial Way to witness the agility, confidence, and intelligence of the Tustin Police K9s.

Tustin Police PSO Edwin Urias places the fingerprint of 2-year-old Celin Lobato of Tustin as her father, Arturo Lobato, holds her before the balloon is blown up along with the fingerprint at the CSI booth of Tustin Police Department’s annual Open House.Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

They watched loud demonstrations by the Tustin/Irvine SWAT team using flash-bang devices, and got an up-close look at firearms and other weapons, checked out SWAT gear, explored police vehicles, and chatted with our sworn and civilian employees.

Longtime Tustin resident Judi Grachen came out to introduce herself to the new police chief.

“It’s fabulous,” Grachen said. “This way, as a community, we can meet the chief and relate to him. This is wonderful to do this for the community, so we can all meet special people and know they are doing teamwork and (see) all they are doing to help the community stay safe.”

Kids hold their ears in anticipation of an upcoming flash grenade used during a SWAT demonstration as part of Tustin Police Department’s Open House.Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

For the first time in recent memory at a Tustin Police open house, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department displayed Duke 7, its Bell UH 1 Huey search-and-rescue helicopter.

The 1974 Huey was owned by the Army and used as a test helicopter in Yuma, Arizona, said Orange County Sheriff’s Deputy Joe Kantar, who pilots the chopper. The Army donated the Huey to the OCSD.

Now the chopper goes on search-and-rescue missions with a five-man crew.

“People have responded quite well to us being here,” Kantar said. “It’s a great opportunity for the community to come out and see what the Tustin Police Department and Orange County Sheriff’s Department can offer to protect the quality of life here in the county.”

A non-lethal flash grenade, used to temporarily disorient an enemy’s senses, is used during a SWAT demonstration as part of Tustin Police Department’s Open House.Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

The open house also featured guided tours of the police department, which included stops in the criminal investigations unit, records unit, communications unit, booking area, and many other sections of the department.

Several community groups were also on hand, including OC Human Relations, Orange County Animal Care, the American Red Cross, and the Department of Veterans Affairs, as well as the Tustin Police Chief’s Advisory Board.

“It’s one of the most attended events in the City of Tustin, other than the chili cookoff,” Advisory Board member Osman Tashan said. “They meet the police in person … the ones who come to your house when you call 911. This is one of the good events.”

Members of the Tustin and Irvine Police Department’s SWAT team move in during a demonstration at Tustin Police Department’s Open House.Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Visitors were treated to free hot dogs cooked by the officers themselves.

“It’s gotten tougher in the last five to 10 years and the community partnership with the police department, Sheriff’s Department, and all the public safety agencies is vital nowadays,” Greenberg said.

Tustin Police PSO Eileen Chen hand kids a balloon with their fingerprint on it during the department’s annual Open House.Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Tustin Police Officer Bonnie Breeze, left, heads the Tustin Police Department Honor Guard at the start of the annual open house.Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Tustin Police Officer Eric Kent holds his K9 partner, Roky, as Officer Taylor Ryan plays the part of the decoy, pretend bad guy, during a demonstration for the department’s open house.Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Tustin Police K9 Rocky waits for his next command on top of a pile of barrels as part of a Tustin Police Department demonstration.Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Tustin Police Officer Taylor Ryan plays the part of a decoy, a pretend bad guy, as Rocky, a Tustin Police K9, moves in for the bite during an Open House demonstration.Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Tustin Police Motor Officer John Hedges makes his way through the cone maze as the crowd watches.Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

A crowd of kids and parents watch as Tustin Police Department puts on a motorcycle demonstration.Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Isabella Romualdo, 5, looks out of the turret of a SWAT vehicle during Tustin Police Department’s Open House.Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Tustin Police Officer Travis Wilson explains some of the weapons law enforcement officers train with during the department Open House.Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Sammy Cardona, 4, of Tustin gets to look through the scope of an AR-15 rifle on display at Tustin Police Department’s Open House.Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s Duke 7 rescue helicopter takes off from the parking lot of Tustin Police Department as the crowd watches during the Open House.Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Kids sit on the shoulders of their parents as the Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s Duke 7 rescue helicopter takes off from the parking lot of Tustin Police Department during an Open House.Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Tustin Police Officer Michael McJunkin has his photo taken with Alexa during the department’s Open House.Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge